Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2001 Ford Explorer Sport, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Suspension33
- Structure30
- Power train26
- Engine and engine cooling21
- Seats15
- Vehicle speed control14
- Service brakes, hydraulic13
- Air bags13
- Tires12
- Electrical system9
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 20 injuries and 4 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2001 Ford Explorer Sport failed the safety check 3.08% of the time — 54% more often than the average 2001 passenger car (2.00%). Median odometer at inspection: 144,995 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 1 variant: combined 15.5 L/100 km (about 15 mpg US), CO₂ 357 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Explorer Sport 4X4 · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 17.4 | 13.1 | 15.5 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER VEHICLES, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MOTOR HOMES CHASSIS, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HIGH BACK SEATS, THE UPPER BOLT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE HIGH BACK SEAT THAT ATTACHES THE SEAT RECLINER MECHANISM TO THE SEAT BACK FRAME, COULD FRACTURE. IF THE BOLT FRACTURES, THE SEAT BACK MAY RECLINE UNTIL IT MAKES CONTACT WITH AN OBJECT BEHIND THE SEAT, SUCH AS THE SECOND ROW SEAT CUSHION.
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL AND 4.0L SOHC ENGINES, IF THE STRAND COVER ON THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE BECOMES FLARED AT THE END, THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE MAY BIND WHEN THE SPEED CONTROL IS ACTIVATED.
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HIGH BACK SEATS, THE UPPER BOLT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE HIGH BACK SEAT, THAT ATTACHES THE SEAT RECLINER MECHANISM TO THE SEAT BACK FRAME, COULD FRACTURE. IF THE BOLT FRACTURES AND DOES NOT JAM IN THE SEAT BACK FRAME, THE SEAT BACK MAY RECLINE UNTIL IT MAKES CONTACT WITH AN OBJECT BEHIND THE SEAT, SUCH AS THE SECOND ROW SEAT CUSHION.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WITH STEEL HOODS AND CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH SHEET MOLDING COMPOUND HOODS. A WIRE FORMED HOOD STRIKER COULD BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO FATIGUE FRACTURES. IF THE HOOD STRIKER FRACTURES, THE HOOD COULD FLY OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Ford told its dealers about the 2001 Ford Explorer Sport: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 637924 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.3L, 3.0L OR 4.0L ENGINE AND 5R44E OR 5R55E AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MAY EXHIBIT A FLUID LEAK AT THE TRANSMISSION SERVO COVERS IN COLD CLIMATES. *TT |
| 637922 | SOME VEHICLES BUILT PRIOR TO 9/15/2001 MAY EXHIBIT LOW LINE PRESSURE READINGS WHILE IN DRIVE, NO 2ND GEAR, NO 3RD GEAR, NO ENGINE BRAKING IN MANUAL 1ST AND SLIPPING SHIFTS AND / OR DELAYED ENGAGEMENTS. *TT |
| 637920 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 4.0 SOHC (SINGLE OVER-HEAD CAM) ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT A PRIMARY TIMING CHAIN RATTLE NOISE. *TT |
| 637843 | SOME VEHICLES EQUPPED WITH 4.0L ENGINE AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MAY EXHIBIT A ROUGH IDLE, LOW SPEED ENGINE QUIT, HESITATION ON COLD ENGINE TIP-IN AND / OR HESITATION DURING A 5-3 DONWSHIFT. *TT |
| 637803 | CONCERNS WITH BRAKE VIBRATION, ROUGHNESS AND / OR GRINDING NOISE, AND EXCESSIVE BRAKE ROTOR CORROSION. *TT |
| 637781 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A HARD START / NO START CONDITION DUE TO FUEL PRESSURE BLEED DOWN. *TT |
| 637755 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A NO 1-2 UPSHIFT, NO 2-3 UPSHIFT, A NO ENGINE BRAKING CONDITION IN MANUAL 1 OR DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0732 (GEAR 2 INCORRECT RATIO) OR P0733 (GEAR 3 INCORRECT RATIO). *TT |
| 637726 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT AN INTERMITTENT SOFT CLUTCH PEDAL WHICH MAY CAUSE DIFFICULTY IN SHIFTING GEARS (A NOTCHY FEEL). *TT |
| 637710 | SOME VEHICLES WITH 4WABS MAY EXHIBIT DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES C1233 AND C1234 (ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SENSOR OUTPUT FAILURE). *TT |
| 637542 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4WABS MAY EXHIBIT DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES C1233 AND C1234 (ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SENSOR OUTPUT FAILURE). *TT |
| 637478 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 5R55E/5R44E TRANSMISSION MAY EXHIBIT A WHINE NOISE IN 1ST GEAR THAT GOES AWAY AFTER THE 1-2 OR 1-3 SHIFT IS COMPLETED. *TT |
| 637460 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A CONDITION OF STEERING WHEEL LEATHER PEELING. *TT |
| 637452 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT WIND NOISE AROUND THE FRONT DOORS, NEAR THE TOP REAR-WARD PORTION OF THE DOOR / GLASS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, OR IN A CROSS WIND. *TT |
| 636395 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L ENGINE AND MANUAL TRANSMISSION MAY EXHIBIT AN INTERMITTENT STUMBLE DURING DECELERATION AND / OR AT STOPS WHEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. *TT |
| 636390 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT AN AIR BAG LIGHT ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE B1993. *TT |
| 636366 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT ADHESIVE EXTRUDING FROM THE HEADLINER MATERIAL AROUND THE MOONROOF. *TT |
| 636333 | SOME ENGINES MAY EXHIBIT A HESITATION IN VARIOUS DRIVE MODES AND / OR A MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ILLUMINATION WITH CODES SET IN MEMORY P0171/P0174 AND / OR P0172/P0175. *TT |
| 636324 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT EITHER A VERY HARD OR VERY SOFT CLUTCH PEDAL FEEL. *TT |
| 636235 | EXPERIENCING A CLICKING / POPPING NOISE FROM THE UPPER STEERING COLUMN AREA WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. *TT |
| 636233 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 5R55E AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MAY EXHIBIT A GEAR WHINE TYPE NOISE IN 1ST AND / OR 2ND GEARS ONLY. *TT |
| 636212 | SOME VEHICLES WITH 4WABS MAY EXHIBIT DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES C1233 AND C1234 (ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SENSOR OUTPUT FAILURES) IN SLIPPERY CONDITIONS. *TT |
| 636161 | INFORMATION ON SERVICING THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH TILT STEERING COLUMN. *TT |
| 636158 | INFORMATION ON SERVICING MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH WIRING ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH TILT STEERING COLUMN. *TT |
| 636151 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT REPEAT SERVICE FOR AN AIR BAG LAMP ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES B1994 AND B1998 SET. *TT |
| 636143 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT UNEVEN AND / OR PREMATURE FRONT BRAKE PAD WEAR, PARTICULARLY THE FRONT INSIDE PAD. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD
FRONT SEAT BACK RECLINER ATTACHMENT
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation